Plein Air at the Red Head dyke

The best intentions do not always go according to plan

I had the day planned with intentions to paint in the morning at the dyke in Red Head.  Got up.  The sun was shining. Yes a wonderful day to paint Plein Air. I loaded up the car and drove into Saint John.  

As I approached town you could not help but notice the fog.  Heavy fog over the Bay.  Fog so thick you could not see Partridge Island, my intended target for the day. Anyway I set up my easel.  Got my pallet out, poured water into the funny blue cup you see there on the easel. Then one of the tripod legs slipped.  Water went everywhere.  So I cleaned up that mess.  Then I poured some more water into the cup and realized that I did not like where I positioned the easel.  So I carefully moved it ever so gently to the side.  

And what should happen?  

Well the leg collapsed yet again and I had to dive to save the set up.    The water in the funny cup landed on my chest!  I was soaked from the neck down! And my nice little grey and white t-shirt caught my palette and is now dotted with vibrant watercolour gobs. Oh well, such is the life of a Plein Air artist! 

Shades of Grey…Literally

When you looked at the sky it was pretty monochrome.  Various shades of pale grey.  Fog. But I could feel the sun trying to come out.  By the time I painted the foggy sky and a bit of the water, the fog had lifted enough to see the island and the breakwater. Success!  

Only not really. I am not satisfied with the painting. I love colour and this is well…too pale for me.  I will be back the first sunny day to get it right.  Oh, and must be on time for the Fundy Group of Plein Air Painters show at the Saint John Arts Centre opening next Friday!  No pressure at all.